FIT FOR DUTY – Thirty-seven recruits graduating from the Alaska Department of Public Safety Training Academy's Law Enforcement Training Session 1802 take the oath of office this afternoon at the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi. The audience was told that during the rigorous 16-week session recruits lost a combined 200 pounds of body fat. The graduates will be taking law enforcement positions around the state from the North Slope Borough Police Department to statewide Alaska Wildlife Troopers to the Ketchikan Police Department. Speaker at the ceremony was DPS Deputy Commissioner William Comer, who graduated from the academy in 1985. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

HSGQE Given At Sitka High The High School Graduation Qualifying Exam and Standards Based Assessments will be given at Sitka High School 8:50 a.m. April 1-3. A free breakfast will be offered at 8:15 a.m. on testing days. Freshmen and sophomores must be present for testing on those days, as well as any juniors and seniors who have not passed a portion of the exam. Juniors and seniors who have successfully passed all portions of the exam will have those days off. Students are strongly encouraged to leave cell phones at home as they and other electronic devices are not allowed in the testing areas. School buses will run on their normal schedules. Call Sitka High at 747-3263 with further questions.

Theater Tryouts Set at BMS Blatchley Middle School students are invited to try out for a two-week theater class to be held during the school day in mid-April. Tryouts are after school on April 3 in the school library. Students participating in this opportunity will be excused from one regular class a day to work with Raphael Shapiro, an actor and Fine Arts Camp instructor. Call Kari at 752-7323 with questions.

Seniors’ Parents Meet at SHS Parents of Sitka High School seniors are being asked to attend a meeting 7-8 p.m. April 9 in the Keet Gooshi Heen school library to discuss the all-night party following graduation. Parents who haven’t sent an email to organizers should contact them at
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. Registration forms can be turned into the SHS office.

Herring Panel Meets Tuesday Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Herring Committee will meet 7 p.m. April 1 at 429 Katlian Street. It is open to the public. Questions can be directed to 747-7168.

State Parks Panel to Meet The Sitka State Parks Advisory Board will meet 7:30 a.m. April 8 at Centennial Hall. The public is invited to attend.

Sales Tax Goes Up The City and Borough of Sitka reminds the public that the sales tax rate will increase to 6 percent effective Tuesday, April 1, and continue through Sept. 30 for all sales, services and short-term rentals. The sales tax rate remains at 5 percent for long-term rental of real property, such as trailer space rental and boat stall rental. It does not include residential units, which are tax exempt. The bed tax rate remains the same at 6 percent. The increased sales tax cap went from $1,000 to $1,500 Oct. 1, 2012, which caused the maximum sales tax charged to increase from $75 to $90 per invoice. Those with questions may contact the sales tax offices of the City and Borough of Sitka at 747-1840.

School Board Meets Sitka School Board will meet 6 p.m. April 1 in the Sitka High School library. The public is being encouraged to attend.

First Aid/CPR Set UAS-Sitka Campus, Office of Continuing Education, will offer an American Heart Association First Aid and CPR training 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 5. The training fulfills OSHA and Coast Guard requirements. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive Heartsaver cards. The cost of $90 includes the book. For more information or to register, call 747-7762.

Driver’s Education Training April 1-22 UAS- Sitka Campus, Office of Continuing Education, will offer driver’s education training April 1-22. This course is primarily for new drivers and those wishing to prepare for their driver’s license exam, but also anyone interested in improving their driving skills. The course will include classroom instruction, hands-on driving and observing other drivers. Student accident insurance included in fee. Students must have a learners permit at time of registration. Parental consent necessary. The cost is $369. For more information or to register, call 747-7762.

SNEP Classes Updates Given The Sitka Native Education Program announces its last day of regularly scheduled classes for kindergarten through fifth grades will be April 10. Parents are reminded that students in sixth through 12th grades will continue in preparation for Celebration 2014. SNEP’s end-of-the-year program is scheduled at the ANB Hall on 5:30 p.m. April 14. Dinner will be served and parents are being encouraged to bring a salad or dessert. Those with questions may contact SNEP at 966-1356.

‘Smart Money’ Programs Offered Kettleson Memorial Library and the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension program will offer a series of programs observing Smart Money Week, April 6-12. Money Smart Week is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. Kicking off the week on April 6 at 5 p.m., Joe Meador will be speaker. Meador serves as a senior auditor in Florida for 10 years, six years as a criminal investigator with the IRS and Homeland Security, and has bachelor of arts degrees in both business and criminology. He has information about taxes for individuals, businesses and the self-employed. Among his topics, he will explain the consequences of filing or not filing on the potential well-being of an individual and his/her family, what Meador calls the trail of reporting. Several Lunch n’ Learns are planned with Sandi Riggs of ALPS talking about ‘‘Budgeting and Debt Management’’ noon-1 p.m. April 7 and another with Cyndy Gibson on retirement planning, noon-1 p.m. April 11. Jay Sweeney will host a chat about his philosophy of individual investing. The story time session on April 10 will focus on a financial topic. Piggy banks will be given to attendees and supplied by local banks and credit unions.

Mystery Quilt Class on Tap Ocean Wave Quilt Guild will offer a ‘‘mystery quilt’’ class taught by Jan Lovett 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 26 at Church of Christ, 1113 Edgecumbe Drive. The cost of class is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Class description and supply list are available at Abby’s Reflection and Ben Franklin’s fabric department. Signup is at Abby’s Reflection.